in the Cloud

Such a fun chat with Jason Fried, Co-founder and CEO of 37signals --the company behind Basecamp and HEY. Jason's also the author of the excellent (and prescient) books Rework and Remote . Jason joined me via Zoom from his home-office in California. If you're enjoying these conversations, please consider supporting Mountain Cloud through donation and membership. Your contribution is a meaningful wa...

David Robert Loy is a professor, writer, and Zen teacher in the Sanbo Zen tradition of Japanese Zen Buddhism. He is a prolific author , whose articles appear regularly in the pages of major journals such as Tikkun and Buddhist magazines including Tricycle , Lion's Roar , and Buddhadharma , as well as in a variety of scholarly journals. Many of his writings, as well as audio and video talks and int...

This talk begins with an exploration of the first grave precept in Mahayana Buddhism, not-killing. Valerie then turns to case 14 in the Mumonkan or Gateless Gate, the next koan in the collection. This famous case, "Nansen Kills the Cat," is often described as a difficult koan, opaque to understanding and troubling to our sensibilities. Would a Zen master actually slay a cat in an all-out effort to...

For this episode, we're reaching back in time with Will & Lucie Brennan, two of the original founders and builders of Mountain Cloud. So fun to take a trip down memory lane with them. I hope you enjoy hearing the 'origin stories'. If you're enjoying these conversations, please consider supporting Mountain Cloud through donation and membership. Your contribution is a meaningful way for us to contin...

Freshly returned from the annual Sanbo Zen teacher training in Germany and a sesshin she led there, Valerie reflects on these experiences and on the many gifts of practice. How do we find our way on this path of practice exactly where we are, lacking nothing, and, at the same time, called ever more deeply into the freedom and compassion that is our native ground? The talk offers a tribute to Patty...

Such a delight to chat with Vanessa Zuisei Goddard. Zuisei has a fascinating pathless path. She joined me online, from her home in Panama City. You, too, can join Zuisei online, with the Ocean Mind Sangha . If you're enjoying these conversations, please consider supporting Mountain Cloud through donation and membership. Your contribution is a meaningful way for us to continue offering these progra...

Shana reflects upon the recent Kenshukai in Germany, and examines Case 86 of the Blue Cliff Record, "Unmon's Bright Light." Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member, so we can continue to offer these programs freely. Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/ Membership: https://www.mountaincloud.org/about/membership/ Reach out to grant@mountaincloud.org...

We're back with another episode of Path(less)! Today with the lovely Daisy Lin. We had a great time chatting about a whole host of interesting topics. Please enjoy! If you're enjoying these conversations, please consider supporting Mountain Cloud through donation and membership. Your contribution is a meaningful way for us to continue offering these programs freely. Donation Membership Reach out t...

As our 30 Days of Dogen course comes to an end, Valerie invites a return to Dogen's seminal awakening:  Body and mind fallen away. What geography of awakening does Dogen's experience lay bare for us and can it be anywhere but here? Looking into this, the talk turns to case 27 in the Blue Cliff Record, "Unmon's 'Complete Exposure.'"  The koan asks, 'When everything falls away, what then?' Our pract...

What a pleasure and a privilege to sit down with Henry Shukman for a conversation in the Study at Mountain Cloud. Henry's app, The Way , is a single-path meditaton program designed to bring the depth of traditional practice into the digital age. He's also the author of the excellent books, One Blade of Grass and Original Love . Henry and The Way offer opportunities to gather in-person around the w...

Many of us come to spiritual practice because of a persistent feeling that there's something wrong—something off about us or about the world. Perhaps we struggle with loneliness or a sense of alienation. Perhaps we crave intimacy but are afraid to get close. Perhaps we wonder why there's so much conflict everywhere. Is there a better way to relate to others and to ourselves? In this Teisho, Zuisei...

A real joy chatting Light Watkins from his home in Mexico City. Light's latest book, The Year You Transform , is a wonderfully practical guide to how small, daily behaviors can have truly transformative power. If you're enjoying these conversations, please consider supporting Mountain Cloud through donation and membership. Your contribution is a meaningful way for us to continue offering these pro...

In this talk, Valerie begins with a look into Dogen's phrase, "mountain-still sitting," asking how this practice of divesting ourselves – "dropping away body and mind" – is, at the same time, an invitation to realize the inexhaustible abundance that runs through all things. The talk then turns to a koan that embodies this realization: case 10 of the Gateless Gate, "Seizei the Poor." In the case, a...

So nice to chat with Sarah Giffin, the Executive Director of Mountain Cloud Zen Center. Sarah's had an interesting pathless path to her current role at the Center, and has such a gift for storytelling. If you're enjoying these conversations, please consider supporting Mountain Cloud through donation and membership. Your contribution is a meaningful way for us to continue offering these programs fr...

Returning to the zendo after co-leading a monthlong 'mini-ango' at a beautiful Zen center in the Black Forest region of Germany, Valerie reflects on travel and long sitting and Zen's ever-present invitation to come home to what we truly are. The talk then turns to case 9 in the Gateless Gate or Mumonkan, "Daitsu Chisho," another name for the essential wisdom that pervades all places.    This koan...

Scott explores Case 53 of the Blue Cliff Record or Hekiganroku : "Hyakujo and the Wild Ducks." Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member, so we can continue to offer these programs freely. Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/ Membership: https://www.mountaincloud.org/about/membership/ Reach out to grant@mountaincloud.org with any comments or suggest...

Really enjoyed this conversation with Eric Zimmer . Eric was in Santa Fe while touring in support of his latest book, How A Little Becomes A Lot . Also check out his incredibly popular podcast, The One You Feed . If you're enjoying these conversations, please consider supporting Mountain Cloud through donation and membership. Your contribution is a meaningful way for us to continue offering these...

When the Buddha touched the Earth ( bhumisparsha ), was the Earth touching him?  What does our nonduality with the Earth really mean? Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member, so we can continue to offer these programs freely. Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/ Membership: https://www.mountaincloud.org/about/membership/ Reach out to grant@mountai...

Such a pleasure to sit down with Elena Brower in the Study at Mountain Cloud for a beautiful conversation around the pathless path of practice and life. Please check out Elena's latest book, Hold Nothing , as well as her Substack , where she writes on practice, study, and listening. Elena also hosts a wonderful podcast called Practice You . If you're enjoying these conversations, please consider s...

Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member, so we can continue to offer these programs freely. Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/ Membership: https://www.mountaincloud.org/about/membership/ Reach out to grant@mountaincloud.org with any comments or suggestions.

Such a joy to sit down with Tias Little (during a break from writing his latest book) on the beautiful grounds of Prajna Yoga . Tias and Surya offer amazing  courses and classes , both in their temple in Santa Fe, as well as online. If you're enjoying these conversations, please consider supporting Mountain Cloud through donation and membership. Your contribution is a meaningful way for us to cont...

In this talk, Valerie begins with an Earth Day reflection, acknowledging and honoring what Hakuin Zenji calls "this earth where we stand." The talk then turns to case 8 in the Gateless Gate or Mumonkan, "Keichu Makes Carts." The koan asks: What happens to the cart when all the moving parts are removed? And what about us? When all our concepts and assumptions fall away, what remains? In his verse t...

Really enjoyed this conversation with author, journalist, and ultra-endurance athlete, Katie Arnold. Her latest book,  "Brief Flashings in the Phenomenal World" , is a beautiful Zen meditation wrapped in a memoir. And check out all of the great things Katie is up to, including her next "Flow Camp" , in Telluride, Colorado ... Website Substack Instagram Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud thr...

Ben's talk is based on his new book , Inside the Flower Garland Sutra: Huayan Buddhism and the Modern World. Huayan Buddhism arose in the sixth century in China rooted in the Mahayana Flower Garland (Huayan) Sutra. Huayan is relational, practical, and positive. Its emphasis on interdependence, celebration of the sensual world, and diversity of people and practices has much to offer during this era...

It was an honor to sit down with David Loy for this next conversation in the Path(less) series. David will be joining us here at Mountain Cloud for our May EcoDharma Residency . To learn more about David, his teachings, books and appearances, check out his webiste: https://www.davidloy.org   Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud through donation or membership. Donation:  https://www.mountaincl...